Insole with a medicinal insert

ABSTRACT

An insole (10) includes a body portion (11) having a recess (16) therein. The recess (16) is configured to receive a medically treated insert (18) which is removably attached to the body portion (11).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/703,706 filed on Jul. 26, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an insole for a shoe which can provide medicinal advantages to its user. More specifically, this invention relates to an insole having a medically impregnated insert which can be replaced when its medicinal effect is spent.

BACKGROUND ART

Insoles for shoes are well known in the art. Such are inserted into the shoe of the user with their typical function being to provide comfort to the foot of the user. Some insoles can be configured so as to provide relief for a user who is plagued with plantar fasciitis or similar ailment.

It is also known to form insoles with a medicinal material to provide medical relief to the user. Such is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,061,911. While such can be effective if properly constructed, when the medicinal effect is spent, the insole itself must be replaced long before it might be worn out. In addition, such an insole is only effective for one particular ailment, and if the user encounters another ailment, the insole must be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an insole with a medicinal insert.

It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide an insole, as above, in which the insert is readily replaceable when its medicinal effect is spent or when a different medical effect is desired.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, an insole made in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes a body portion having a recess therein. An insert is configured generally in the shape of the recess and is provided with a medicinal material.

A preferred insole according to the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insole made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the insole of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An insole made in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. Insole 10 includes a body portion, generally indicated by the numeral 11 and made of any suitable moldable foam material. Body portion 11 is generally shaped like a conventional insole having a top surface 12 which forms a heel cradling area 13, arch support area 14, and a ball of foot and toe supporting area 15.

A recess 16 is formed in the top surface 12. Recess 16 can take on most any configuration within body portion 11 but it preferably is in the same shape as the external configuration of body portion 11, that is, it is generally in the shape of a human foot. The bottom surface 17 of recess 16 is formed with an attachment feature such as the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener system. An insert 18 in the peripherial shape of recess 16 and thus includes a heel area, an arch support, and a ball of foot and toe supporting area. Insert 18 has a bottom attachment surface which is compatible with the attachment surface 17 of recess 16, such as the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener system. Insert 18 can be made of porous material to receive a medicinal material. The porous material of insert 18 could be a non-woven or knit fabric, an open cell foam, or any combination thereof. An example of the medicinal material is a CannaBiDiol (CBD) oil or the like which can treat foot pain. However, many different substances, such as topical analgesics, antibiotic ointments, therapeutic-grade essential oils, or the like, could be used to medically impregnate insert 18.

In use, insert 18 is received in and attached to recess 16, as shown in FIG. 1, and the medicinal effect can be transferred to the user of insole 18. Although the thickness of insert 18 may be identical to the depth of recess 16, insert 18 could be thicker than the depth of recess 16 such that it extends above to surface 12 of insole 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Such not only assures that the foot of the user fully engages the insert 18, but also such makes it easier to remove insert 18 from recess 16. Since the attachment of the insert 18 to the recess 16 is not permanent, when the medicinal advantage of insert 18 is spent, it may merely be removed and replaced with a fresh insert having of the same or alternative medical affect thereby not requiring a replacement of the entire insole.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that an insole constructed as described herein substantially improves the art and accomplishes the objects of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An insole comprising a body portion, a recess formed in said body portion, and an insert configured generally in the shape of said recess, said insert being received in said recess and carrying a medicinal material.
 2. The insole of claim 1 wherein said insert is removably received in said recess.
 3. The insole of claim 2 wherein said body portion includes an attachment surface and said insert has an attachment surface compatible with said attachment surface of said body portion.
 4. The insole of claim 3 wherein one of said attachment surfaces includes a loop type fastener and the other said attachment surface includes a compatible hook type fastener.
 5. The insole of claim 1 wherein said recess has a depth and said insert has a thickness generally corresponding to said depth.
 6. The insole of claim 1 wherein said recess has a depth and said insert has a thickness greater than said depth.
 7. The insole of claim 1 wherein said body portion is made of foam and said insert is made of a fabric material.
 8. The insole of claim 1 wherein said recess is positioned in said body portion under the heel, arch, and ball of foot of the user. 